be you.

First-ever training for trainers to help build inclusive churches

September 14, 2012

Thirty folks from across the country gathered in Minneapolis recently for the Task Force’s first-ever “Building an Inclusive Church (BIC): Train the Trainer.” The Task Force’s Institute for Welcoming Resources has been leading BIC trainings for years, equipping almost 1,000 folks to return to their home congregations to help lead a process which results in their congregation publicly declaring itself a truly safe and welcoming place for LGBT people.

These trainings have proved to be remarkably effective in increasing the number of welcoming congregations in the country to well over 4,500. However, we as trainers can only be in so many places at once. But now with the folks trained at the three “Train the Trainer” events that we are holding in the next year, we will be able to dramatically increase the number of trainings.

Everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves to be honored as a beloved child of God. Every person, no matter who they are, deserves to be welcomed and celebrated at Christ’s table. Yet, far too often our churches are neither welcoming nor honoring of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. “Building an Inclusive Church” offers powerful tools to help the church be the church it is meant to be – just, loving and extravagantly welcoming.

We teach faith-based community organizing – skills all through the lens of graceful engagement – along with sound Biblical and theological education, strategic storytelling, meaningful worship and lots of music, discussion of bisexuality and transgender issues, and time for concrete action planning. To learn more about the Institute for Welcoming Resources and these trainings, click here.